As I was preparing this message, I checked the Internet for World News and the top headlines were:
US in financial crisis!
Pakistani troops kill militants
Jobless claims pushed to 7-year high
Former Trade unionist elected as South African President
Governor Palin once blessed to be free from “witchcraft”
China launches mission for spacewalk
European union bans baby food with Chinese milk
Finland bewildered by deadly school shootings
North Korea bans UN Nuclear inspectors from plant
Beatlemania hits Israel
How are Christians suppose to deal with what’s going on in the world? Should we be involved in any of the world’s affairs? Should Christians just have holy huddles and ignore the rest of the world?
The answers of course are in God’s Word! Open your Bibles to Genesis 14.
Let us learn from a man named Abram who found himself involved with the world. The first 11 verses of Genesis 14 talks about a situation in the world outside of Abram’s life. V12 connects Abram to the world. V13-16 tells us how Abram responded. The end of the chapter tells us how the world and God wanted a relationship with Abram.
God gives us a history lesson in the beginning of Genesis 14 with many names and countries. For better understanding, let me summarize that history before reading it.
There was actually one king, Kedorlaomer, who dominated many other kings. 5 kings decided a rule over 12 years was enough and so they went against Kedorlaomer and his allies. But the dominant king still won and seized everything.
Read along with me Genesis 14…………….
In v1-11, the world went to war. Why was there a war?
War erupted because of power and greed.
V12: Abram’s nephew Lot was taken captive.
Abram was connected to the affairs of the world because of the suffering of his relative.
V13-16: Abram went to war to rescue his relative.
V15-16 tells us that Abram defeated the great king Kedorlaomer and Abram recovered everything!
V18-21: We note 2 different offers to Abram’s victory.
Based on v21, what did the King of Sodom wanted from victorious Abram??
The king of Sodom tempted Abram to be involved with his world.
What did God desired for victorious Abram?
God desired to bless and remind Abram who really is in control.
How did Abram respond to the 2 offers?
1. Abram rejected affiliation with the wicked.
The king of Sodom offered an alliance with Abram.
Abram knew that the king of Sodom was ungodly. Sodom was a well known wicked city. Lot, Abram’s nephew, lived there and knew the wickedness. The offer to Abram was for selfish gains, not for godly reasons.
2. Abram made a commitment to God by:
• accepting God’s offering of bread & wine and blessings
• affirming that God is in control
• giving to the work of God in the world
• worshiping God alone (raised his hands to the Lord)
What biblical principles can we apply to our lives today?
Abram had to be involved in world affairs because one of his relatives was taken captive. As Christians, who are our relatives??
Other Christians are relatives of Christians. Are there Christians in the world suffering? According to the organization called “The Voice of the Martyrs”, current persecution of Christians include:
North Korea - Christian Persecution Expected to Continue
Saudi Arabia – Muslim Cleric Kills His Sister for being a Christian
INDIA – Violence against Christians Escalating in Orissa State
China Confiscates Bibles
An Eritrean Christian woman died of malaria after being imprisoned and tortured for months.
Persecution of Christians is also happening here in America isn’t it?
Are we giving in to the world or are we fighting for Christ?
Are we doing anything about our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering? Abram got involved and saved Lot and he was commended by God.
A. We should also be involved in rescuing our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.
What can we do?
Here are some suggestions:
- be informed of the persecutions (check the Internet)
- pray for the persecuted Christians
- support organizations helping persecuted Christians
- ask government officials for help
Let us be involved in rescuing persecuted Christians.
And like Abram who was confronted with 2 opposing offers, Christians today will be constantly confronted with either affiliating with the world or affiliating with God.
B. Christians must be alert and aware of the lure of the world. Christians are to be in the world but not to be of the world! Christians are to focus on things above, not on earthly things.
1. Like Abram, Christians must reject affiliation with the wicked.
Let us all memorize Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”
I encourage you to evaluate your partnerships with other people. Whether it is for social or business reasons, pray about your relationships. Can wicked people say to us, “they have become successful because of me!” We Christians must partner with people who are not looking for selfish gains.
Who do you vote for in your government? Do they have godly principles or worldly ones? What laws do you allow in our society? Are they godly ones or worldly ones? God has given us a right to speak out here in America! Are you taking advantage of that right or are you allowing the world to make decisions for you?
2. Again like Abram, Christians must constantly commit to the Lord Jesus Christ:
a. We must always receive Christ in our daily lives.
Jesus Christ is God’s bread and wine for us today and is the source of all blessings. Are you making it a habit to do a throne check of your heart? Is Jesus really ruling over your life?
b. Let go and let Jesus Christ be in control.
Are you hanging on to things selfishly?
Are you doing things your way instead of the Lord Jesus?
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! Why are we getting in the way of Jesus?
c. Give systematically to the work of Christ.
Should we give a tenth of what we have to the church?
A tenth is a good start, but be careful of being legalistic about tithing! Every time Jesus spoke about tithing, it was for rebuke! And Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has, cannot be my disciple.”
We must give our all to Jesus! What does this mean financially? Jesus wants us to have a budget and each line in that budget should be given to Jesus. You budget and your checkbook are indicators of your love for Jesus.
And fourthly, being committed to Christ means worshiping Christ. Abram said, “I have raised my hand to the Lord.”
Raising hands to the Lord means reaching out to, focusing on, and exalting Christ above ourselves. When you sing and when you pray, are you reaching out to Christ, focusing on Him, and exalting Christ above yourself?
d. Worship Jesus Christ by reaching out to Him, focusing only on Him, and exalting Him above all!!
Will you worship Jesus Christ right now by praying quietly to Him?
Reach out to Jesus Christ! Focus only on the lord Jesus Christ!
Exalt Jesus Christ above yourself!
Ask Jesus what you need to do to honor Him.
